NFL-Week 1-Previews

Pittsburgh-New England….Patriots in full force with Tom Brady running show…Big question-loss of trustworthy RBs-Shane Vareen-Steven Ridley and NT-Vince Wilfork-make it a different team…How good will Pats WR’s be….Pittsburgh won’t have RB-Le’Veon Bell (suspension)-but offense should be dangerous…Defense in total rebuild mode-without talents of Troy Polamalu and coordinator Dick LeBeau….Big Ben-vs-Brady-wild game coming

Chargers-Lions….Last guy touches the ball (Rivers-Stafford) wins, in QB-throwing contest?….Bolts will blitz-will Matthew Stafford burn them….Look for limited 1st-2nd down run work with Melvin Gordon….Greater reliance on Danny Woodhead-Brandon Oliver at least in open game run-packages….Chargers have underside CBs (Verrett-Flowers)-so how do they hold up against bigger more physical Calvin Johnson-Golden Tate-combo?….San Diego very young on defense and in sub-packages….Lions have explosiveness on offense…..Huge issues on defense….Stafford may throw for 330…Rivers could throw for 400.

Green Bay-Chicago….Packers will not have WR-Jordy Nelson, but do have Randall Cobb and late addition James Jones to catch everything Aaron Rodgers throws…Debut of John Fox as Bears coach…Question-will Jay Cutler be any better, different, more trustworthy at QB?

Kansas City-Houston…Chiefs have to be better getting football down he field with Alex Smith throwing to new WR-Jeremy Maclin…..Question whether NT-Dontari Poe-coming off back surgery-can hold up in defensive front?….Texans start new QB-Brian Hoyer, but life very different without WR-Andre Johnson and RB-Arian Foster….Will this game be anything more than Jamal Chares-vs-JJ Watt?

Cleveland-New York….Browns new QB-Josh McCown….Jets new leadership Todd Bowles….New York defense will be fierce as season progresses…Browns defense looks very strong…Might be field goal kicking contest.

Colts-Bills….Andrew Luck-vs-Rex Ryan’s defense…Some big time matchup……Bills start QB-EJ Manuel-but Matt Cassell brought back as insurance policy…Colts debut of Andre Johnson and Frank Gore as part of Colts veteran additions.

Miami-Washington…QB-Ryan Tannehill seems destined for stardom…Dolphins defense better than many realize….Kirk Cousins is Redskins starter for better or worse….RGIII-controversy just will not go away…Huge season for Jay Gruden to prove he deserves to be head coach.

Carolina-Jacksonville….This is simply Cam Newton-vs-Blake Bortels in QB-matchup….Both teams lack talent around good young QB…Jaguars defense and Panthers pass rush will be fun to watch in likely low scoring opener.

Seattle-St. Louis….Seahawks coming off substandard preseason with injuries, roster changes, and Kam Chancellor holdout….Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch will be there-so it will be explosive game….Rams defense very good….Offense still seems shaky-even with addition of veteran QB-Nick Foles…..Run game very unsettled.

New Orleans-Arizona…Drew Brees-against-Carson Palmer is a pretty good matchup…..Cardinals think they now have complete package offensive skill around Palmer, coming off knee surgery and a good preseason….Brees has to live life without Jimmy Graham and Ken Stills catching balls….Cards defense is street-tough….Saints defense is a sieve….Saints may not be what they once were.

Tennessee-Tampa…..Coming out party for rookie QBs-Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston…..Mariota rock solid preseason and learning how to play in pocket and under center….Winston shaky at times, in pocket and facing pass rush….WR-Vincent Jackson and RB-Doug Martin keys to helping Winston stay stable….Neither defense have many big names.

Cincinnati-Oakland….Huge season for Coach Marvin Lewis-QB-Andy Dalton, known for good regular seasons and one-and-done post seasons…Raiders Jack Del Rio changing culture team….QB-Derek Carr-WR-Amari Cooper look superb in preseason…..Raiders-awful lot young kids on defense…This could have ambush-upset written all over it.

Baltimore-Denver……Changes everywhere….Yes Peyton Manning-Joe Flacco will throw TDs but Broncos have four new starters in OL….Ravens have lots of changes on defense…..Huge question about Broncos new zone blocking scheme and Peyton Manning playing under center….How long will it take Ravens new parts to fit together with QB?

NY Giants-Dallas….Eli Manning not have much healthy help around him if Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham can’t stay healthy on field….Defense needs some Lourdes Holy Water….Yes Cowboys have Tony Romo and Dez Bryant, and strong OL, but run game tremendously suspect as are holes on defense…….

Philadelphia-Atlanta….Chip Kelly high octane offense had great August…Firepower everywhere for QB-Sam Bradford, who seems to be flourishing under guru offensive coach….Unveiling of DeMarco Murray-Ryan Mathews-Darren Spoles run-catch game….Matt Ryan has seen team fall apart around him….May take time to fit parts to work….Falcons start rookie RB-group.

Minnesota-San Francisco….I may be only Norv Turner-Mike Zimmer fan around-just think it is really good leadership group for QB-Teddy Bridgewater to work under…..Think 49ers are a roster mess….Colin Kaeperneck needs help with just Reggie Bush, Anquan Boldin and Torry Smith only proven offensive partners…San Francisco defense-so many missing parts.

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